Lubricating device



April 18, 1961 P. R. SlMMS LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1958 INVENTOR PAUL R. SIMMS i sdi Sta e Patent 9 LUBRICATIN G DEVICE Paul R. Simms, Niles, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,819

2 Claims. (Cl. 184-102) This invention pertains to lubricating means and more particularly to a novel device for applying a lubricant to a cam assembly.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an arrangement for lubricating the transmitting and sensing cam assemblies of tape-controlled telegraph transmitters, and comprises an oil reservoir positioned between said assemblies. Clamped to said reservoir is a leather strip of a width suflicient to span the plurality of cams of each assembly, the leather strip having a wick-like portion struck therefrom and adapted to dip intothe oil in the reservoir. The leather strip is also provided with a plurality of slots therein to control or limit the flow of oil, to thereby preclude the application of excessive quantities of lubricant to the cam assemblies.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device capable of giving a controlled distribution of lubricant to parts to be lubricated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricator having a novel means for restricting the oil flow rate.

A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained from the following description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lubricating device according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the oil-absorbent material constructed according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an alternate form of construction of the oilabsorbent strip.

Having reference to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the lubricating device 10, according to the present invention comprises an oil reservoir 11, adapted to be positioned between two cam assemblies 12 and 13. Of course, the lubricator according to the present invention is equally effective if employed with one cam assembly, or even with more than two. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the lubricator 10 is supported on suitable brackets 14 and 15 mounted in the apparatus (not shown).

Positioned between the web portion 16 disposed between brackets 14 and 15 and the upper or open end of the reservoir 11 are a leather wick 17 and a clamping plate 18, both of a width sufiicient to span all of the cams of the assemblies 12 and 13. Plate 18 is serrated on its edges over the cam assemblies, with a tooth over each cam, so as to impart a spring-like action thereto to press the leather wick 17 against the periphery of the individual cams, if desired. A plurality of clamping screws 19 screwed into bosses 21 at the bottom of the reservoir 11 (in the embodiment shown) are effective to clamp the parts 11, 16, 17 and 18 together. Screw is of short length and functions as a plug for the closing of the oil filter hole.

The leather wick 17 has a tongue portion 22 struck therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3, which tongue 22 is adaptleather wick 17 is provided with a plurality of slots 23, strategically positioned to control and limit the flow of oil to the cams, and thereby avoid excessive lubrication thereof. The tongue portion 22 dipping into the oil reservoir functions, by wick action or capillary attraction, to convey the oil or lubricant therefrom. The limiting action to the flow of oil in the leather wick results from restriction of the free flow of oil to the cams because the oil must flow around the slots 23. An additional flow control is achieved by varying the pressure applied between the reservoir 11 and the top plate 18 by the clamping screws 19 and web 16 because as the leather strip 17 is compressed, the flow of oil therethrough is impeded. Although the present embodiment has been described with the use of a leather strip or wick 17, it is, of course, understood that any suitable oil-absorbent material may be used.

An alternate form of construction of the oil-absorbent strip is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the leather wick has been conformed of two interconnecting parts 24 and 25 having a T-shaped articulation. With the form shown, there could be one set 24-25 for each cam assembly and a single or common reservoir 11. The flange portion 26 of the T-shaped tongue 25 is adapted to fit into a corresponding T-shaped opening 27 in the portion 24, such that the groove 28 created therebetween provides a substantial restriction to the flow of oil or lubricant from the tongue 25 to the enlarged portion 24. The edge of the part 24' adjacent to the serrated edge of plate 18 is provided with slits 29 to flex with each cam contour.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particular application thereof, it will be understood that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lubricating system for supplying a predetermined amount of lubricant to each of a plurality of cams, in a cam assembly, a container for lubricant, and a member consisting of a material capable of conveying lubricant by capillary attraction from said container to all of said cams, said member having a width suflicient to span all of the cams in said assembly and having a tongue portion extending into the lubricant in said container and another portion intermediate the container and said cams which other portion is provided with at least one slotted hole through it disposed with its longest dimension transversely of the direction of flow of lubricant from the-com I tainer to the cams to provide restricted areas of predetermined widths in the member for restricting the flow of lubricant from the container to the cams.

2. In a lubricating system for supplying a predetermined amount of lubricant to each of a plurality of cams in a pair of spaced cam assemblies, a container for lubricant positioned between said assemblies, a member consisting of a materialcapable of conveying lubricant by capillary attraction from said container to all of the cams on both cam assemblies, said member being substantially rectangular and of a width and length sufiicient to span and contact all of the cams in both of said assemblies and having a tongue portion extending from a midportion thereof into lubricant in said container, said member having other portions intermediate the container and each of said cam assemblies each of which said other portions is provided with at-least one slotted hole through it disposed with its longest dimension transversely of the direction of flow of lubricant from the container to the cams to provide restricted areas of predetermined width in the member for restricting the flow of lubricant from the container to the cams,

3- 4 and means comprising a clamping plate of substantially References Cited in the file of this patent the same width as said member and a web portion for UNITED STATES PATENTS applying a compressing force to said member to further 955,603 sh A 19, 1910 adjustably restrict the fiow ofrlubricant from the container 1,309,013 B n July 8, 1919 to the cams. 5 2,708,985 Evans et a1 May 24, 1955 

